Lyr Req: Look What They've Done to My Mountain

Subject: Lyr Req: Look What They've Done to My Mountain
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 10:00 PM

A songbook I used in 1974 had an Appalachian song about strip mining. I only remember this one line, "Look What They've Done to My Mountain", and it doesn't appear in your lyrIc search. I've looked for this song for years so I may have the lyric wrong. It strikes me that the meaning might have been subtle, as if it was in a book of lullabies or otherwise labelled to not call attention to it as a protest song. It was in a sweet waltz time, and a lament. I lived in Northern Appalachia at the time, and this may have coloured my memories. The sheet music, or my interpretation, seemed to make it a WV or PA folk song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What They've Done to My Mountain
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 06:13 AM

Sounds like The Coming of the Roads by Billy Edd Wheeler, but the lyric is not quite right. Otherwise there is What Have They Done to My Song, Ma? by Melanie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What They've Done to My Mountain
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 09:41 AM

The closest I can get is Blue Diamond Mines by Jean Ritchie, which is probably not the one you're looking for. It has the lines

Your union is dead and you're shaking your head
They say mining's had its day
But you're stripping off my mountain top
And you pay me three dollars a day

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What They've Done to My Mountain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 18 - 12:16 PM

Here's that "Coming of the Roads" mentioned upthread:

https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=1309

It's not a waltz, but includes this verse:

Look how they've cut all to pieces
Our ancient poplar and oak
And the hillsides are stained with the greases
That burned up the heavens with smoke

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What They've Done to My Mountain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 18 - 10:42 PM

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